CynicAle
Surly Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Farmhouse Ale - Saison
- ABV:
- 6.7%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 10.28%
- Reviews:
- 616
- Ratings:
- From:
- Surly Brewing Company
- Minnesota, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 246
- Gots
- 221
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good


Notes:
Reviews: 616
| Ratings: 1,518
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
Reviews by brewnic:
More User Reviews:
AgentMunky from New York
3.98/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
On tap at Mikkeller Bangkok.
Hazy-clear. It smells like fruity-sweet Belgian yeast. Hints of coriander and sour grain. The taste is full, rich, and surprisingly sweet. The aftertaste smacks of a traditional saison, but the maintaste is white grapes and pluots. Interesting and compelling. I like it! Recommended.
May 08, 2015
3.98/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
On tap at Mikkeller Bangkok.
Hazy-clear. It smells like fruity-sweet Belgian yeast. Hints of coriander and sour grain. The taste is full, rich, and surprisingly sweet. The aftertaste smacks of a traditional saison, but the maintaste is white grapes and pluots. Interesting and compelling. I like it! Recommended.
May 08, 2015
FLBeerGuy from Florida
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jun 18, 2017
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jun 18, 2017
syrupjoe from Florida
4.15/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
16oz can into pint glass
1/2 finger cream-white head that dies almost immediately. Clouded golden straw color with no particulates.
Smells of marmalade, grass, yeast, and pepper. Tastes very spicy, with slight banana ester. Very funky but clean.
Overall - a delicious beer. Not an astounding example of the farmhouse style, but something I will continue to purchase.
Jul 16, 2011
4.15/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
16oz can into pint glass
1/2 finger cream-white head that dies almost immediately. Clouded golden straw color with no particulates.
Smells of marmalade, grass, yeast, and pepper. Tastes very spicy, with slight banana ester. Very funky but clean.
Overall - a delicious beer. Not an astounding example of the farmhouse style, but something I will continue to purchase.
Jul 16, 2011
Hophead101 from Pennsylvania
4.15/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
drank on 3.2.09 while working at home. Got this in a trade from Natasha - thank you - this beer is great.
Pours a superbly crystal clear golden yellow color. Decent off white head, didn't seem to last too long, but good looking none the less. Not much lacing at all, but it could be the glass. This beer has a nice yeasty and malty smell. Belgian yeast smell is definitely present. Mild hop smell with a good scent of crisp floral and citrus.
This beer was a ton creamier than I expected after the look and smell of this beer. But I was more than pleasantly surprised. Ever so slight pepper taste, more in the finish than anything else. Mild flowers and citrus in the taste, but less than what was in the aroma.
Overall awesome beer. Was very surprised and could definitely throw a bunch of these back. Mouthfeel and drinkability were quite good. Medium body mouthfeel wiht a nice creamy taste make for one enjoyable drinking beer.
Mar 03, 2009
4.15/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
drank on 3.2.09 while working at home. Got this in a trade from Natasha - thank you - this beer is great.
Pours a superbly crystal clear golden yellow color. Decent off white head, didn't seem to last too long, but good looking none the less. Not much lacing at all, but it could be the glass. This beer has a nice yeasty and malty smell. Belgian yeast smell is definitely present. Mild hop smell with a good scent of crisp floral and citrus.
This beer was a ton creamier than I expected after the look and smell of this beer. But I was more than pleasantly surprised. Ever so slight pepper taste, more in the finish than anything else. Mild flowers and citrus in the taste, but less than what was in the aroma.
Overall awesome beer. Was very surprised and could definitely throw a bunch of these back. Mouthfeel and drinkability were quite good. Medium body mouthfeel wiht a nice creamy taste make for one enjoyable drinking beer.
Mar 03, 2009
jeff1973 from California
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 17, 2015
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 17, 2015
Cramerican from North Dakota
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 22, 2016
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 22, 2016
Beerbuddha from Florida
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jan 14, 2018
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jan 14, 2018
ColdPoncho from Ohio
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Brandon for this in the n00b BIF
Canned 10-5-11
A - Crystal clear golden straw body with a sizable white head. Nice
S - yeasty, zesty, vanilla. Nice stuff.
T - Crisp and smooth. Nice slightly dry flavors. Some vanilla, some earth, some citrus tartness. Good flavor.
M - Smooth, dry, medium body.
O - A solid all-around beer. Very enjoyable.
Nov 12, 2011
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Brandon for this in the n00b BIF
Canned 10-5-11
A - Crystal clear golden straw body with a sizable white head. Nice
S - yeasty, zesty, vanilla. Nice stuff.
T - Crisp and smooth. Nice slightly dry flavors. Some vanilla, some earth, some citrus tartness. Good flavor.
M - Smooth, dry, medium body.
O - A solid all-around beer. Very enjoyable.
Nov 12, 2011
Treyliff from West Virginia
4.01/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned on 5/22/13
A- Pours a lightly hazed golden yellow color with a two-finger foamy and frothy white head, great retention well after the pour
S- sharp phenolic aromas up front with some peppery spiciness. Fruity notes of pear, apricot, apple skin and a touch of lemon zest. Some earthy must closes out the aroma
T- Big doughy and bready malt flavor up front, reminiscent of sourdough. Classic saison phenolic flavors kick in mid-palate, quickly followed by fruity flavors of pear, apple and lemon. Dry finish with some earthy-yeasty must on the finish
M- Medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that finishes crisp and refreshing, high drinkability
O- This is a refreshing and easy drinking saison with plenty of flavor to boot. If this was available to me regularly, it would be a staple for me during the summer.
Sep 06, 2013
4.01/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned on 5/22/13
A- Pours a lightly hazed golden yellow color with a two-finger foamy and frothy white head, great retention well after the pour
S- sharp phenolic aromas up front with some peppery spiciness. Fruity notes of pear, apricot, apple skin and a touch of lemon zest. Some earthy must closes out the aroma
T- Big doughy and bready malt flavor up front, reminiscent of sourdough. Classic saison phenolic flavors kick in mid-palate, quickly followed by fruity flavors of pear, apple and lemon. Dry finish with some earthy-yeasty must on the finish
M- Medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that finishes crisp and refreshing, high drinkability
O- This is a refreshing and easy drinking saison with plenty of flavor to boot. If this was available to me regularly, it would be a staple for me during the summer.
Sep 06, 2013
PittBeerGirl from Ohio
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to deliriumfest for this great beer!
A- Body is a very foggy straw yellow hue. Pours with a one finger or so head that eventually subsides to a thin collar. Retains very well from there. No lacing is left behind in the glass. Cloudiness is thick and uniform.
S- What I expect in a good Saison. Pepper accents a fruity tone upfront with a slight yeast funk poking through. There is also a hint of phenols and a big presence of floral hops.
T- The flavor is somewhat mild upfront and seems very delicate. Dry pear is accented by a hint of pepper while subtle tones of honey and yeast funk linger in the background but don't ever surface. The finish highlights a pretty potent dose of floral hops and nothing lingers on after that.
M-Carbonation is low to medium and body is pretty light. Decent overall but nothing exciting going on here.
D- This is a great saison overall and a good representation of the style. I had been looking forward to trying this one for awhile and was glad I had the opportunity to do so. Will trade for it again!
Jan 27, 2009
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to deliriumfest for this great beer!
A- Body is a very foggy straw yellow hue. Pours with a one finger or so head that eventually subsides to a thin collar. Retains very well from there. No lacing is left behind in the glass. Cloudiness is thick and uniform.
S- What I expect in a good Saison. Pepper accents a fruity tone upfront with a slight yeast funk poking through. There is also a hint of phenols and a big presence of floral hops.
T- The flavor is somewhat mild upfront and seems very delicate. Dry pear is accented by a hint of pepper while subtle tones of honey and yeast funk linger in the background but don't ever surface. The finish highlights a pretty potent dose of floral hops and nothing lingers on after that.
M-Carbonation is low to medium and body is pretty light. Decent overall but nothing exciting going on here.
D- This is a great saison overall and a good representation of the style. I had been looking forward to trying this one for awhile and was glad I had the opportunity to do so. Will trade for it again!
Jan 27, 2009
lic217 from Connecticut
4.06/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 18, 2016
4.06/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 18, 2016
CynicAle from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
1518 ratings
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